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Information for Prospective Agencies

The Required Practicum

A public health practicum is a required element of the MPH degree at the School of Public Health. As in all accredited schools of public health, MPH students are required to complete an approved, planned and supervised practicum.

A practicum provides the opportunity to integrate and apply classroom learning in a public health work environment, enabling students to observe and learn from professionals in the field. The student contributes to a community's resources and to the solution of public health problems, while developing practical skills and personal confidence as a public health professional.

For students new to the field of public health, the practicum serves as an important first step in a public health career, providing an introduction to the practical skills and experience necessary for a productive and fulfilling career. Students with prior work experience find the practicum provides the opportunity to hone their skills or to gain new experience in a different area of specialization.

Organizations interested in having SPH students work with you on current and future projects can learn more about how to do so here. Practicum frequently asked questions (FAQs) are below.

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ's

What is a public health practicum?
A public health practicum is a course designed specifically to prepare public health professionals for work in the field.  A practicum experience involves supervised practical application of public health theory.

What agencies or organizations qualify as a practicum site?
Local, state, federal and international agencies and organizations that address significant public health problems and can provide the student with a designated site supervisor.

How can you find a SPH student to work on a practicum experience with your agency?
The easiest way for you to find a practicum student is to post notice of your agency’s practicum opportunity with the MPH Practicum Office.  Notice of practicum opportunities is distributed to students via email, posted on the practicum website and bulletin board.  Interested students will contact your organization directly about the position.

Information needed:

  • Organization Name
  • Contact Person, phone and email
  • Project title and description
  • Project area of focus
  • Any special skills required for project
  • Staffing date and timeline
  • Distance form UW Campus
  • Is there a stipend available

Send to René Lucas, MPH Practicum Coordinator at rlucas@u.washington.edu. 

Examples of past practicum opportunities

What are the benefits of this arrangement for my organization?
SPH’s practicum program gives your agency the opportunity to receive assistance from graduate students who offer a variety of public health skills.  Participating agencies and organizations play a direct role in helping the future leaders in public health make contributions to the field.  Participating in the practicum program also allows members of SPH’s faculty to engage in collaborative work in their fields of interest and expertise.

SPH provides areas of concentration in which students may specialize their program of study:

  • Biostatistics
  • Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
  • Epidemiology
    • General Epidemiology
    • Global Health Track
    • Maternal & Child Health Track
    • Nutritional Sciences
    • Public Health Genetics
  • Global Health:
    • General MPH Track  
    • Peace Corps Masters International Track
  • Health Services:
    • Health Care and Population Health Research
    • Health Policy Analysis and Process
    • Social & Behavioral Sciences
    • Maternal & Child Health
    • Extended Degree Program

Should my agency provide compensation for the student’s work?
Practica may be paid or unpaid.

What types of projects are appropriate for a practicum?
All projects should be public health-related and present a challenging environment.  Practica vary greatly depending on the specific fields represented by participating organizations and agencies.  Examples of specific activities include grant writing, data analysis, program evaluation and policy development.

What types of projects are not appropriate for a practicum?
Photocopying 101: Administrative/clerical work plays a role in all positions. However, the requirement for practicum students is that these activities are not their ONLY projects. If combined with more substantive work, these activities are acceptable.

Mentoring/Job Shadowing: While mentoring and job shadowing are beneficial activities, they will not meet the practicum requirement.  The goal of the practicum is for students to gain skills, which cannot be achieved through observation alone.

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Please direct all questions regarding the practicum program to:

Rene' M. Lucas, MPH Practicum Coordinator
Dean's Office
School of Public Health
Box 357230
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-7230
(206) 685-8904